Some
of the most pressing questions that I’ve heard about open source
programs were: ‘Are there many open source (OS) programs out
there?’ Is OS being used just by a few persons? Could I read my
files and documents? If I go for OS programs, will it read my files?
Can I send my files to others?’
This
shows that rather being taught how to use a computer or any other
device we were brainwashed into how to use a particular program of a
closed source company!!!! One teacher was transferred from one school
into another. He prepared his lessons for a particular kind of a
white interactive brand. When he arrived in the new school, he found
out that the school had a different kind of interactive white
board. He couldn’t use his files. The second interactive white
board couldn’t read his files from the first interactive white
board!!!! The teacher panicked as he had ‘wasted a lot of time to
prepare his notes!!!!’
Most
of the people who are all for an adventure in education go for open
source. Why? Because it easily transferable from one system to
another; you can never be locked out as in the case of a propriety
software; it saves a lot of time etc.. The best thing about it is
that a student can experiment with the system without being charged
for breaking the law. Indeed how can our students be professionals if
we never let them delete, install, program on computers ?
OS
will change teachers’ set of mind in many ways. One of the most
important is that of sharing. How many times the students see the
teacher using a program but they cannot have a copy (unless they
pay)? Worse than that, is the fact that some teachers don’t want to
share their power point presentations neither! It all shows that we
still need to grasp the benefit of sharing with others. When we share
our ideas, we are not losing at all! If we start sharing, there will
be many people who will do the same. There are so many more ideas
online and meeting other new people. By the way, other people already
share a lot of their work online so it’s only fair to give our part
after all.
Today
we are presenting a link to the EU’s portal where most of the OS
projects are published. The list is very long and very interesting.
Have
a look!
